Vehicle-axle.



:r. v. HUSTAN.

VEHICLE AXLE. APPLIO'ATIOH rum) MAY 11.1909.

Patented 0ct.19,1909.

snrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES VICTORY HUSTAN, 0F HAVANA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVIDSGI-IOONOVER, 0F HAVANA, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11,

Patented Got. 19, 1909.

1909. Serial No. 495,292.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES VICTORY HUs- TAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Havana, in the county of Mason and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-Axles, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle axles and moreparticularly one composed of extensible sections, whereby the wheels ofthe vehicle may be disposed nearer to or farther from each other to varythe gage of the vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical deviceof this character, the parts of which may be quickly and easily adjustedand which will be substantially as strong and durable as the usualonepiece metal axle.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction and the combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one endof a vehicle axle showing the application of the invention thereto; Fig.2 is a longitudinal section; Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken on theplanes indicated by the lines 33 and .-t in Fig. 1.; and Figs. 5 and 6are sectional views taken, respectively, on the planes indicated by thelines 5-5 and 6-6 in Fig. 2.

In the drawings 1 denotes the main section or body portion of a metalaxle and 2 denotes a slidable and adjustable section which carries aspindle 3 for the vehicle wheel. Said spindle carrying sect-ion'2 isadapted to telescopically receive the end of the main section 1 and itis adjusted and secured in adjusted position by providing upon its innerend rack teethet which mesh with a pinion 5 arranged in a frame 6 on theaxle section 1 and fixed to a transverse shaft 7 journaled in saidframe. Said shaft is adapted to be rotated by a wi'ench or other tool tocause the pinion 5 to move the rack 4 and hence the axle sect-ion 2longitudinally on the main section 1. The frame 6 is of rectangularshape and surrounds the axle section 1, its side portions being weldedor otherwise secured to said section'l, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.In the top and bottom portions of the frame 6 are provided set screws 8,9, the former of which impinges against the pinion 5 and the latteragainst thebottom of the axle section 2 so that the parts will beeffectively retained in adjusted position when said set screws aretightened. On one of the projecting ends of the shaft 7 is a squared orfiat faced portion 10 adapted to-receive a wrench or other tool by meansof which the shaft may be readily rotated. The slidable or telescopingaxle section 2 is preferably of U-form and consists of top and bottombars 11, 12 which are united at their outer ends by a connecting endportion 13 and which slidably engage the top and bottom faces of themain axle section 1, which latter is preferably of rectangular shape incross section. The spindle 8 is suitably shaped to receive the vehiclewheel and it is formed with an opening shaped to receive the outerportion of the section 2. Said spindle is retained on the axle section 2by a nut 14 engaged with a reduced screw end portion 13 of the axlesection 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides anexceedingly simple de vice of this character which may be produced at acomparatively small cost, will be strong and durable and by means ofwhich the wheels on the axle may be quickly and easily disposed nearerto or farther from each other to vary the gage of. the wagon or othervehicle. By simply loosening the set screws 8, 9 and turning the shaft 7the axle section 2 may be slid longitudinally on the main section 1, andwhen adjusted to the desired position may be locked by tightening theset screws 8, 9.

' While I have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it will be understood that various changes in the form,proportion and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructionmay be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A vehicle axle comprising a main section, an extensible spindlecarrying section,

threaded stem 15 which projects from the a rack and pinion device foradjusting the latter,- and means securing said spindle carrying sectionin adjusted position.

2. A vehicle a'xle comprising a main section, an extensible spindlecarrying section, and a rack and pinion device for adjusting the latter.

3. A vehicle axle comprising a main section, an extensible spindlecarrying section, a rack and pinion device for moving the spindlecarrying section longitudinally on the main section and a set screw forsecuring said spindle carrying section in adjusted position.

4. A vehicle axle comprising a main section, a slidable section on themain section, a spindle removably secured on the slidable section, arack carried by the slidable section, a frame carried by the mainsection, a shaft in said frame and having a flat faced portion toreceive a wrench or the like, a

pinion fixed to said shaft and in mesh with said rack and a set screwfor securing said slidable axle section in adjusted position.

5. A vehicle axle comprising a main section having flat faces, aslidable section of U-form adapted to receive the main section and slidethereon, a reduced threaded stem upon the closed outer end of theslidable axle section, a spindle arranged on the outer port-ion of theslidable axle section, a nut upon said stem to retain the spindle uponsaid slidable axle section and means for adjusting said slidable axlesection and retaining it in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JAMES VICTORY HUSTAN.

Witnesses C. D. TERRELL, OSCAR L. HUSTAN.

